JUNE 2011

- A phenomenal start for the Mason Shaffer Public Cord Blood Program at Main Line Health! Lankenau Medical Center as of 6/15 has 108 units collected!! Bryn Mawr Hospital as of 6/15 has 62 units collected!!

- Our very first fundraising event is scheduled for July 3, 2011:

The Big Bang BBQ at Black Walnut Winery
Sadsburyville, PA (map)
Sunday, July 3
12:00pm - 6:00pm

Enjoy wine tasting ($6/person to sample 7 wines), live music and fabulous food!
Wines available for purchase by the glass and by the bottle
(no other alcohol allowed on site.)

Free Afternoon Concert ~ Dan Frantz, 1pm - 5pm.
Bring your own wine glass for this free outdoor concert or purchase one of ours.
Amazing BBQ meats & sides available for purchase from Jimmy's BBQ.

RAFFLE PRIZES:
Wine & Food Pairing for 8 ($125 value)
donated by Black Walnut Winery
Black Walnut Winery Hat, T-Shirt and Wine to be raffled
and
MSF T-Shirts for sale throughout the event!

All proceeds go to MSF for continued development of the Mason Shaffer Cord Blood Program at Main Line Health, and the continued goals of the MSF.

May 2011

The Mason Shaffer Foundation of Pennsylvania, Community Blood Services of NJ/NY and Main Line Health proudly announce their new cooperative effort designed to offer families the opportunity to publicly bank their babies' cord blood - the first organized effort of its kind in Pennsylvania east of Pittsburgh. The program, named the Mason Shaffer Public Cord Blood Program at Main Line Health, will be offered to all expectant mothers delivering at Lankenau Medical Center and Bryn Mawr Hospital. Plans are underway to expand the program to expectant mothers delivering at Paoli and Riddle Hospitals. A press conference will be held Wednesday, May 4th at 1:00PM EST at Lankenau Medical Center.

Download the press release >>
Text of the press conference announcement >>

February 2011

Joaquin celebrated his 1st birthday February 19th. He and his family will return to Ecuador on February 24th to rejoin their anxiously awaiting family, including four year-old sister Carolina!

January 2011

-Our friend Joaquin Albornoz of Ecuador is coming up on 100 days post-transplant on January 24th, and he turns 1 year old on February 19. From what we can determine, Joaquin and our own son, Mason Shaffer (shown together at right) are the first MIOP patients to be successfully transplanted without hearing or vision deficits. Mason will be 2 years old on March 5th. We are now connecting with othe MIOP families across the country, like the family of Anthony Dones in New York, to share information and support.

NOVEMBER 2010

-Joaquin Albornoz of Ecuador was diagnosed with MIOP, and on October 14, 2010 received a stem cell transplant at Dupont/Nemours. On day 48 post-transplant, Joaquin (at right) was doing very well.

OCTOBER 2010

- On Oct 9th, 2010, our dear sweet friend Noxah Palomo became an angel. He was surrounded by family and friends. On that day, I asked him to visit Reilly and Mason to keep them in line, and I can honestly tell you that he already has! A video tribute to Noxah >>

- Tuesday Oct 12: Sarah & Marc Shaffer and son Mason appear at the press conference announcing the opening of the Mercy Medical Center public umbilicord cord bank, the first public bank in Maryland. The opening of the free cord donation program at Mercy is particularly significant for African-American cord blood banking, as 80% of births at Mercy Medical are to minority women. Sickle cell disease is one of over 90 diseases treatable with cord blood stem cells. Video of the event from WBAL TV and Yahoo News.

- The Mason Shaffer Foundation is now actively working with The New Jersey Cord Blood Bank and The Main Line Health System to develop the Mason Shaffer Cord Blood Program. This collaboration would bring the first cord blood donation program to the Philadelphia area and make Main Line Health the first hospital system in the Philadelphia area to actively participate in a cord blood donation program. The Mason Shaffer Cord Blood Program will provide expectant mothers/families with the educational guidance necessary to make an informed decision on cord blood donation. The joint effort between the NJCBB, MLH Hospitals, and The Mason Shaffer Cord Blood Program means that all women giving birth at a Main Line Health System Hospital will have the opportunity to donate their babies’ lifesaving umbilical cord blood for FREE. NJCBB and MLH staff will work closely with expectant mothers/families to coordinate donation collection and transportion to the NJCBB facility. Donated cord blood is listed on the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) registry for use by any patient in need of a stem cell transplant.

SEPTEMBER 2010

- This Sunday, September 5th at 10AM, we will convene at Freefall Adventures in Williamstown, New Jersey to watch Noxah Palomo, his parents, and our Foundation's own Chief Medical Consultant, Dr. Anders Kolb, make the jump of a lifetime! We'll be there to welcome them back to Earth with a celebration party - pictures to follow! Thanks again to Freefall Adventures, which has generously donated this jump experience. (Watch the jump video here.)

August 2010

- Our good friend Noxah is battling a fourth relapse of leukemia this year. His courage and positive outlook continue to amaze us. On a recent visit (right) he downed homemade pumpkin cheesecake and received a painting from friend Reilly.

- On August 2nd, Mason Shaffer Foundation received notification of successful application for 501(c)3 exempt status. All donations retroactive to our original incorporation date are tax exempt.

May 2010

- Our thanks to Ashley Youngman, a wonderful young woman who chose to be a part of the Mason Shaffer Foundation for her Senior Project. She has already raised money by selling the red, yellow & white MSF bracelets at her school, and in May she held a benefit yard sale in Selinsgrove, PA. The event raised $650. Thanks, Ashley!

- Please keep our friend Noxah in your thoughts as he bravely battles a leukemia relapse. Noxah is a very strong 13 yr-old boy who was on the BBMT unit at A.I Dupont with Mason.